Chapter 131: The Next Evening

Calian once again brought Raven to a stop. It was because of the rocky mountains in the distance.

They had arrived just as the sun was setting, and the rocky mountains, which touched the sun and turned scarlet, were so magnificent and beautiful that the dignity of the ancient castle below them was not immediately noticeable.

Yan pointed to those mountains, already considered historical sights by simply being located in the inner sanctums of the Seigfried territory.

“That’s the place, Your Highness.”

These plain words were enough to explain that this was the place that held Sispanian’s empty nest. Calian slowly nodded and moved forward again.

As the sun mostly sank away and the sky turned from a brilliant red to the navy darkness of night, the party arrived at the inner walls of the fortress.

Within the gates of the inner walls, knights stood in steady rows waiting for them. They wore the same black armor as the knights who had escorted Kyris all the way here.

Upon seeing them, Calian straightened his back a little and passed by them unflinchingly.

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At the end of the row of knights stood a middle-aged knight upon a white horse.

He was the only person who didn’t have to bother dismounting to greet the prince, the only Duke of Kyris.

Slayman Hon Seigfried.

“Welcome, Your Highness,” he said, opening both arms wide. It wasn’t a gesture to offer a hug but rather to show he was welcoming them to the land.

Calian approached him with a grin.

A similar smile hung on Slayman’s face.

“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”

It was technically their second meeting, though they hadn’t exchanged any words the first time around. Slayman had felt the spirit Calian exuded around the nobles, and Calian knew he would notice it but did not bother to stop him. That was the entire extent of their interactions.

Despite it being their first conversation, they didn’t feel awkward at all. They already knew too much about each other for that.

Slayman simply looked at Calian for a moment with considerable attention and didn’t hide the surprise in his voice when he said,

“Wow! You’ve changed a lot.”

Be it appearance or the strength he held hidden.

While he didn’t say what exactly he had noticed, Calian smiled leisurely because no matter what it was he was talking about, it was true there were changes.

“Yes. Things are a little better than before.”

After hearing his answer, Slayman smiled cheerfully and turned his head to lead the way. Calian lined up at his side, and they began moving side by side.

The figures of the two from behind were completely in contrast, with Calian, his frame slender atop a jet-black horse, and Slayman, muscular and riding a white horse.

At the same time, there was an atmosphere around them that made it look like close friends who had met after a long time, and Yan, looking at them from behind, smiled pleasantly.

The conversation between Slayman and Calian continued.

“I heard you held on to that loose-lipped insolent mage.”

Alan’s reputation was truly consistent.

Even Slayman, who had known him for a long time, talked about him like that.

“A gratifying turn of events.” Calian nodded with a smile.

“The sixth sword even deals in magic? That mage ended up doing some good with a disciple, it seems,” Slayman said, lowering his voice slightly.

Of course, Calian had expected it, so he wasn’t surprised.

He didn’t know how it would be with Marquis Brissen, who had not followed the path of the sword for a long time, but he had anticipated that Slayman would recognize his achievement at once.

“As expected, you noticed it right away.”

“Well, I didn’t live frivolously even if I look like I did, so how could I not see Your Highness’s aura? You might not be able to see mine, but I can see yours clearly.”

As Slayman said, he could see Calian’s aura, but Calian couldn’t see Slayman’s aura.

It was the difference in class.

Slayman’s aura was far greater than Calian’s.

“Anyway, that mage will end up very excited now that even a swordmaster is dealing in magic.”

“I don’t know if he’ll be excited – but he’s definitely working hard.”

While Calian continued the pleasant conversation, recalling his teacher, the two arrived at the entrance of the castle. Slayman turned his horse so that he was facing Calian and said,

“Although I would like to continue our conversation, I cannot delay the inspection of the Western Sector. Apologies, Your Highness, but it seems we’ll have to postpone the rest of our conversation until tomorrow.”

“There is no need to apologize. The schedule ended up changing since I arrived earlier than planned, after all.”

Calian answered without displeasure and looked into the distance at the rocky mountains as he continued to speak,

“We can talk more tomorrow – about meeting the Will of Sispanian too.”

Slayman nodded,

“Of course, please have a pleasant rest until then. We’ll have a lot to talk about once I get back,” he said lightly, smiling in that carefree way.

—

Sigmund Khan Sispanian.

Almighty Sispanian.

The two titles before Sispanian’s name were voluntarily given by strong, self-respecting dragons because she was qualified to receive such treatment from them.

She had at one time terrorized entire continents. At one time sealed away evil spirits. And at another time loved humans.

And one day, she had disappeared.

Some said that she had returned to nature because she could not overcome the boredom that came with immortal life and returned to nature. Others say that she had become a god in the place of the ever-sleeping Serenti.

To meet that Will of Sispanian, which had been left behind after her disappearance, Calian had traveled this long way. His mouth opened wide as he stared at the enormous cavity spread before him.

“It seems I will finally be able to meet you.”

The coming-of-age ceremony for the princes was conducted alone, as dictated by Sispanian’s Will.

The others had remained at the foot of the mountain, so Calian too had followed tradition and continued up the mountain alone.

After organizing his thoughts and considering what he would ask Sispanian, Calian took a step forward into the crack between the mountains without further delay. It had been a bright morning, but as soon as he stepped into the cavity, light seemed to fade, and he was left alone in a cold and dark place.

Startled at the immediate difference a single step made, Calian paused for a moment and then began to walk forward again.

The plodding sound of footsteps, which echoed dully around him, felt like they were bouncing off every stone and crevice.

…

How long had he been walking?

Suddenly curious about the distance he had traveled, Calian turned to glance back.

Light exploded around him.

A golden light that seemed to drive away the darkness by force erupted in every corner of the cavity all at once. Had Calian’s head not already been turned, he might have gone blind.

He reflexively raised his hands, shielding his eyes from the glare.

It was some time before he felt it was safe to lower his hands from his eyes.

Wind that blew from somewhere fluttered against his hair, and the smell of summer grass that flew in with the wind entered his nose. Calian tried to open his eyes fully, but it was hard to get his senses to function inside the cavity.

And he stopped breathing.

Calian hadn’t gotten to the level where he could understand the flow of mana like Alan, but he could feel mana itself. And because of that, he could tell.

Mana so intense. Folding and winding in on itself, complex and never-ending.

A real, cold fear that if he tried to look into the depths of that mana, his heart would stop.

‘It wasn’t her will.’

It was never something as insignificant as her mere will.

“Almighty Sispanian.”

Calian bowed his head low.

Black flowing hair.

Blood-red eyes.

“I offer my greetings to Sispanian.”

Sispanian gazed at Calian.